- Acceptance rate: 21% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 680–750 reading and writing, 640–740 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 30–33 composite
- Average net price: $26,030 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Hillsdale College reported: an acceptance rate of 21% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 30–33.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Hillsdale College reviews each application.
Hillsdale College GPA requirements
Hillsdale College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Hillsdale College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Hillsdale College acceptance rate
Hillsdale College admitted 659 of 3,181 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 21%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Hillsdale College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Hillsdale, Michigan, with 1,649 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Hillsdale College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 680 | 730 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 640 | 690 | 740 |
| ACT Composite | 30 | 31 | 33 |
| ACT English | 31 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 26 | 28 | 31 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1415 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Hillsdale College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Hillsdale College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $26,030 a year at Hillsdale College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.5 GPA get you into Hillsdale College?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Hillsdale College admitted 21% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Hillsdale College?
A lot: Hillsdale College requires high school GPA, high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers college preparatory program, test scores, other tests and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What is Hillsdale College's acceptance rate?
Hillsdale College's acceptance rate was 21% for fall 2024: it admitted 659 of 3,181 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Hillsdale College test optional?
Yes. Hillsdale College considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 32% sent SAT scores and 34% sent ACT scores.
What are Hillsdale College's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Hillsdale College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 680–750 in reading and writing and 640–740 in math; ACT composite 30–33, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is Hillsdale College hard to get into?
Yes. Fewer than 1 in 4 applicants got in, so it's highly selective. Hillsdale College admitted 21% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Hillsdale College?
Hillsdale College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Does Hillsdale College give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Hillsdale College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What do students pay at Hillsdale College after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $26,030 a year at Hillsdale College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Hillsdale College consider legacy status?
No. Hillsdale College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Hillsdale College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Hillsdale CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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